U.S. patent number 5,159,328 [Application Number 07/379,346] was granted by the patent office on 1992-10-27 for point-of purchase illuminating display.
This patent grant is currently assigned to McKnight Road Enterprises, Inc.. Invention is credited to Douglas A. Albrecht.
United States Patent |
5,159,328 |
Albrecht |
October 27, 1992 |
Point-of purchase illuminating display
Abstract
A point-of-purchase illuminating display comprises a vertical
display panel having three sets of lights mounted to its front
surface. A first set of lights is spacially arranged around a left
side of the display panel perimeter. A second set of lights is
spacially arranged around a right side of the display panel
perimeter. The third set of lights is arranged in the shape of an
arrow pointing upward and is positioned on an upper portion of the
display panel between the first and second sets of lights. A
digital control circuit controls sequential illumination of the
first and second sets of lights beginning from the bottom middle of
the display panel and sequencing around the left and right sides of
the panel to the top mmiddle portion of the panel. Following the
sequential illumination of the first and second sets of lights, the
third set of lights is simultaneously illuminated twice by the
digital circuit control. The control circuit then resets to or
repeat the cycle.
Inventors: |
Albrecht; Douglas A. (St.
Louis, MO) |
Assignee: |
McKnight Road Enterprises, Inc.
(Maryland Heights, MO)
|
Family
ID: |
23496876 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/379,346 |
Filed: |
July 13, 1989 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/815.47;
340/815.75 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08B
5/36 (20130101); G09F 9/33 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G09F
9/33 (20060101); G08B 5/36 (20060101); G08B
5/22 (20060101); G08B 005/36 () |
Field of
Search: |
;340/815.01,815.03,815.12,815.19,815.21,815.23,815.24,815.26,815.30,815.31,309.4
;40/427,430,442,446,550,577,581 ;273/1ES ;362/227,240,800,812 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Weldon; Ulysses
Assistant Examiner: Fatahiyar; M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Rogers, Howell & Haferkamp
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An illuminating display comprising:
a display panel mounting a plurality of lights;
a first set of lights of the plurality being spatially arranged
around a left side of the panel perimeter;
a second set of lights of the plurality being spatially arranged
around a right side of the panel perimeter;
the first and second sets of lights each having an equal number of
lights;
a third set of lights of the plurality being arranged in the shape
of an arrow between the first and second set of lights; and
control means for controlling sequential illumination of lights of
the first and second set of lights where each light of the first
set is paired with a light of the second set and the control means
controls sequential, simultaneous illumination of pairs of lights
of the first and second sets, and for controlling illumination of
the third set of lights following the illumination of the first and
second sets of lights.
2. The illuminating display of claim 1 comprising:
the control means controlling the illumination of the lights of
each of the first and second sets one light at a time.
3. The illuminating display of claim 2 comprising:
the control means controlling the sequential illumination of the
lights of the first and second sets, starting with lights of the
first and second sets at the middle of the bottom of the panel and
continuing with the lights of the first and second sets arranged
around the left and right sides of the panel, respectively, to the
lights of the first and second sets at the middle of the top of the
panel.
4. The illuminating display of claim 2 comprising:
the control means controlling the simultaneous illumination of the
lights of the third set following the sequential illumination of
the lights of the first and second sets.
5. The illuminating device of claim 3 comprising:
the control means controlling the simultaneous illumination of the
lights of the third set following the sequential illumination of
the lights of the first and second sets in sequence.
6. The illuminating display of claim 1 comprising:
the third set of lights being arranged in an upper, middle area of
the panel and the first, second and third sets of lights
surrounding a center area of the panel.
7. The illuminating display of claim 6 comprising:
a placard means secured to the center area of the panel.
8. The illuminating display of claim 7 comprising:
fastener means on the center area of the panel, the fastener means
releasably securing the placard means to the panel.
9. An illuminating display comprising:
a vertical display panel mounting a plurality of lights;
a first set of lights of the plurality being spatially arranged
around a left side of the panel perimeter;
a second set of lights of the plurality being spatially arranged
around a right side of the panel perimeter;
the first and second sets of lights each having an equal number of
lights;
a third set of lights of the plurality being arranged in the shape
of an arrow between the first and second sets of lights; and
control means for controlling illumination of the lights of each of
the first and second sets where each light of the first set is
paired with a light of the second set and the control means
controls sequential, simultaneous illumination of pairs of lights
of the first and second sets from a bottom middle area of the panel
around the opposite left and right sides of the panel to a top
middle area of the panel, and for controlling simultaneous
illumination of the lights of the third set following the
sequential illumination of the lights of the first and second
sets.
10. The illuminating display of claim 9 comprising:
the first, second and third sets of lights, all being arranged
around the periphery of the panel and surrounding a center area of
the panel, and placard means secured on the center area of the
panel.
11. The illuminating display of claim 10 comprising:
releasable fastener means on the center area of the panel, the
fastener means being adapted to releasably secure the placard means
on the panel.
12. The illuminating display of claim 9 comprising:
the display panel having a rectangular configuration with the first
set of lights being arranged adjacent to the peripheral edge of the
left half of the panel and the second set of lights being arranged
adjacent to the peripheral edge of the right half of the panel.
13. The illuminating display of claim 9 comprising:
the first set of lights including fourteen lights, the second set
of lights including fourteen lights, and the third set of lights
including ten lights.
14. The illuminating display of claim 10 comprising:
the third set of lights being mounted in the middle of the panel
above the center area.
15. An illuminating display comprising:
a vertical display panel having a rectangular configuration with
top and bottom edges and right and left side edges;
a first set of lights spatially arranged on a front surface of the
panel from a middle area of the bottom edge of the panel, along the
bottom edge to the left side edge of the panel, up the left side
edge to the top edge of the panel, and along the top edge to a
middle area of the top edge of the panel;
a second set of lights spatially arranged on the front surface of
the panel from the middle area of the bottom edge of the panel,
along the bottom edge to the right side edge of the panel, up the
right side edge to the top edge of the panel, and along the top
edge to the middle area of the top edge of the panel;
the first and second sets of lights each having an equal number of
lights;
a third set of lights arranged in the shape of an arrow on the
front surface of the panel in a middle area of the panel; and
control means for controlling sequential illumination of the lights
of the first and second sets, where each light of the first set is
paired with a light of the second set and the control means
controls sequential, simultaneous illumination of pairs of lights
of the first and second sets beginning with the lights at the
bottom middle area of the panel and sequencing around the left and
right side edges of the panel and across the top edge of the panel
to the top middle area of the panel, and the for controlling
illumination of the third set of lights simultaneously.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a point-of-purchase display sign adapted
to attract the attention of consumers, in particular, an
illuminated display having controlled sequential flashing lights
arranged around its border, and lights at the center of the display
arranged in the shape of an arrow that are controlled to illuminate
simultaneously.
2. Description of the Related Art
Point-of-purchase display signs of the type provided by the present
invention commonly comprise a display board with a plurality of
lights mounted on the board, and a control mechanism that controls
the illumination of the lights.
It is common for the control mechanism of prior art display signs
to control the simultaneous flashing of the lights arranged on the
sign. Alternatively, prior art control mechanisms are known that
control the flashing of one or more of the lights arranged on the
sign at any one instance. Control mechanisms are also known that
control the sequential flashing of the lights on the sign to give
the illusion of movement of the lights around the display sign.
It is an object of the present invention to combine known features
of prior art illuminating display signs in a unique and unobvious
manner to produce a unique point-of-purchase display sign that
attracts the consumer's attention to the sign, and then directs the
consumer's attention to a particular product being promoted by the
sign. It is a further object of the present invention to control
the illumination of the lights of the sign in a unique pattern and
sequence.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The point-of-purchase illuminating display of the present invention
comprises a vertical display panel mounting a plurality of lights
arranged in first, second and third sets. The first set comprises
lights spacially arranged around the left side of the display panel
perimeter. The second set comprises lights spacially arranged
around the right side of the display panel perimeter. The third set
comprises lights that are arranged in the shape of an arrow at the
top of the display panel between the first and second sets of
lights. The first, second and third sets of lights completely
surround a center area of the display panel.
Releasable fasteners are provided on the center area of the display
panel and are adapted to releasably secure a placard to the center
area of the panel. The placard is adapted to have the name of the
product being promoted by the sign displayed thereon.
The control assembly that controls the illumination of the display
lights comprises a digital circuit including AND gates, decade
counters, and buffers. The circuit is responsive to clock pulse
signals and controls sequential illumination of the lights of the
first and second sets, one light at a time. The sequence begins
with lights a the bottom middle of the display panel and continues
with lights around the opposite sides of the panel to the top
middle of the panel. The circuit then controls simultaneous
illumination of the arrow-shaped third set of lights following the
sequential illumination of the first and second sets of lights.
The control assembly and the first, second and third sets of lights
are all powered by one or more batteries. The control assembly and
the batteries powering the assembly are all incorporated into the
structure of the display sign providing a readily transportable
illuminating display.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further objects and features of the present invention are revealed
in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment
of the invention and in the drawing figures wherein:
FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the illuminating display sign
of the present invention; and
FIG. 2 shows a circuit diagram of the control assembly of the
illuminating display of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 shows a view of the front surface of the vertical display
panel 10 of the present invention. A plurality of lights arranged
in three sets are mounted on the front surface of the panel. The
first set is comprised of the odd-numbered lights L1-L27 arranged
around the left half of the panel 10 periphery as shown in FIG. 1.
The second set is comprised of the even-numbered lights L2-L28
arranged around the right side of the panel 10 periphery as seen in
FIG. 1. The third set is comprised of the lights numbered L31-L40
arranged in the shape of an arrow at the top middle area of the
display panel 10. A center area 12 of the display panel 10 is left
open and is surrounded by the lights of the first, second and third
sets.
A pair of releasable fasteners 14, 16 are provided on the center
area of the panel. A second pair of releasable fasteners (not
shown) are secured to the back side of a placard 22. The fasteners
are adapted to be secured together to releasably secure the placard
to the front surface of the display panel. The placard 22 is
adapted to be painted or marked in any known fashion to display the
name of the product being promoted by the display 10.
A digital circuit 24 for controlling the ordered illumination of
the lights of the first, second and third sets is shown in FIG. 2.
The circuit is of a design and construction commonly known in the
art and well within the ordinary skill of those who design and
construct control circuits of this type. The control circuit 24
comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that comprise
the three sets of lights mounted on the front surface of the
display panel 10. The (LEDs) are interconnected with and have their
illumination controlled by a series of semi-conductor chips and AND
gates.
More specifically, the digital circuit 24 comprises three
semi-conductor chips 26, 28, 30, that function as decade counters.
In the preferred embodiment, CD4017 decade counters are used, but
any semi-conductor that is a functional equivalent may be employed.
The circuit also comprises three 4049 semi-conductors 32, 34, 36,
that function as buffers between the LEDs of the first and second
sets from the first and second counters 26, 28. The 4049 chip is
preferred, but any functional equivalent of this buffer may be
employed. A semi-conductor chip comprising two 4081 AND gates 38,
40 controls the sequential enabling of the three counters 26, 28,
30. The third counter 30 is operatively connected through a
transistor 42 with the LEDs of the third set and controls their
illumination.
The operation of the digital control circuit 24 will be apparent to
those skilled in the art. Operation of the first decade counter 26
is initiated on receipt of a DC voltage from a DC power source 44
input to the power input pin 46 of the decade counter, and on
receipt of a clock pulse signal produced in any conventional manner
at clock connection 48 and received at the decade counter clock
input pin 50. On receipt of the clock pulse the sequential counting
of the decade counter 26 begins, and a series of signals are
sequentially output by the counter through the first six output
pins a-f. Each of the signals sequentially output through the pins
a-f passes through the buffer 32 and momentarily illuminates in
sequence the LEDs L1 and L2, then L3 and L4, and so on until the
LEDs L11 and L12 are momentarily lit. The output from the first pin
a of the decade counter is also supplied to a reset pin 51 of the
second decade counter 28 to reset that counter.
The first decade counter 26 continues to supply output signals
through its four remaining output pins g-j. These signals are
supplied through the second buffer 34 and momentarily illuminate
the LEDs L13 and L14, then L15 and L16, and then L17 and L18. The
signal output from the last output pin j of the first decade
counter 26 is supplied to an input of the AND gate 38 and the chip
enable input 52 of the first decade counter 26. The signal supplied
to the chip enable input 52 disables the first decade counter 26.
The signal supplied to the AND gate 38 from the first counter,
along with a subsequent clock pulse signal supplied to the AND gate
from the clock connection 48, causes the gate 38 to emit a signal
that is transmitted to the clock input pin 54 of the second decade
counter 28. The AND gate signal input to the second decade counter
28 enables the second counter and initiates the output of
sequential signals from the output pins a-j of the second
counter.
The output from the first pin a of the second counter 28 is
supplied to a reset pin 55 of the third decade counter 30 to reset
that counter. The outputs from the second, third and fourth pins
b-d are supplied through the second buffer 34 to control the
momentary illumination of the LEDs L19 and L20, then L21 and L22,
and then L23 and L24. The sequence of output signals from the
output pins e,f of the second decade counter are supplied through
the third buffer 36 to momentarily illuminate the LEDs L25 and L26,
and then LEDs L27 and L28. The momentary illumination of the LED
L28 completes the controlled sequential illumination of the lights
of the first and second sets of lights around the left and right
peripheral edges of the display panel 10, respectively.
The signal output from the last pin j of the second decade counter
28 is supplied to an input of the second AND gate 40 and the chip
enable input 56 of the second decade counter. The signal supplied
to the chip enable input 56 disables the second decade counter 28.
The signal supplied to the second AND gate 40 from the second
counter, together with a subsequent clock pulse signal supplied to
the AND gate 40 from the clock connection 48, causes the second AND
gate 40 to emit a signal that is received by the clock input pin 58
of the third decade counter 30. Receipt of the second AND gate
signal by the third counter input pin 58 enables the third decade
counter 30 and initiates the sequential output of signals from the
output pins a-j of the third counter.
As seen in FIG. 2, only the output pins b, e, and j of the third
decade counter are connected with other parts of the circuit. The
signal supplied from the pin b is supplied to the transistor 42,
momentarily turning the transistor on and causing it to conduct.
This change of state of the transistor 42 results in the
simultaneous illumination of the third set of LEDs L31-L40 and the
simultaneous illumination of the arrow shape on the front surface
of the display panel 10. When the sequence of output signals
supplied from the third decade counter 30 reaches the pin e, the
transistor 42 is again momentarily turned on causing it to conduct
and again the LEDs L31-L40 of the third set are momentarily
illuminated. When the sequence of signals emitted from the third
decade counter 30 reaches the output pin j, the signal is supplied
to the reset pin 60 of the first decade counter 26, resetting the
first counter and preparing the digital circuit to restart the
sequence of controlled illumination of the first, second and third
sets of lights in the manner just described.
In this manner, the first and second sets of lights of the display
panel 10 are illuminated in sequence beginning with the LEDs L1 and
L2 and terminating with the LEDs L27 and L28. Following the
sequential illumination of the lights of the first and second sets,
the lights of the third set L31-L40 are simultaneously illuminated
twice by the digital circuit. The digital circuit is then reset to
repeatedly perform the sequential illumination of the lights
discussed above.
Although a particular digital circuit has been disclosed employing
specific semi-conductor chips in a specific circuit arrangement, it
will be understood that the disclosed circuit is exemplary only,
and that other circuit arrangements may be employed to produce the
same operation of the three sets of lights of the display panel of
the present invention without departing from the scope of the
invention.
While the present invention has been described by reference to a
specific embodiment, it should be understood that modifications and
variations of the invention may be constructed without departing
from the scope of the invention defined in the following
claims.
* * * * *